Can Certain Cleaning Methods Ruin Oriental Rugs?
Oriental rugs make lovely additions to any home or office by adding color, life and originality to a space as floor coverings or wall hangings. But over time, they will become dirty, soiled or stained, whether due to everyday use or accidents. That means your rugs will eventually need to be cleaned to remain looking pretty and bright. When it comes to oriental rug cleaning in South Amboy, NJ, it’s imperative that you clean it the right way to prevent permanent damage or total destruction.
So, here’s an excellent question about oriental rug cleaning in South Amboy, NJ: can certain cleaning methods ruin your oriental rugs? Yes, they can! Below are the most important costly mistakes that you need to avoid when cleaning your oriental rugs.
Taking rugs to a dry cleaner
Most of us know the benefits of having delicate clothing made of certain materials dry cleaned instead of washing them at home. However, this is not recommended for oriental rugs, even though some dry cleaners advertise that their services can remove stains and take dirt off of rugs. Dry cleaning often relies on harsh chemicals that, once on your rug, can warp fibers and spell disaster, especially if the rug is made of wool or silk. Leave oriental rug cleaning to professionals who specialize in their care and treatment.
Frequent vacuuming and steam cleaning
Try not to vacuum oriental rugs too often. In fact, the pros suggest vacuuming only once or twice a month, so you may not want to lay your rug down in a high traffic area. When you do vacuum it, make sure the beater bar is set high to avoid the rug fibers getting sucked up into the vacuum cleaner.
While standard area rugs can be steam cleaned, it is not the right cleaning method for oriental rugs. Most oriental rugs are either wool or silk, both of which can sustain damage when hot water, steam and cleaning chemicals from steam cleaning machines come into contact with them.
Using cleaners with bleach
Don’t panic if you find a stain on your oriental rug—and definitely don’t reach for a carpet cleaning spray. Using a standard household cleaning spray on delicate oriental rugs is one of the worst things you can do, especially since a lot of household cleaners contain bleach. Bleach will discolor any type of fabric and damage the fibers of oriental rugs. Along the same lines, many non-bleach cleaners can also cause serious surface damage.
Putting rugs in the washing machine
You know that keeping your oriental rugs in good condition requires sweeping and washing them on occasion. But what you don’t want to do is put these handcrafted, delicate items in the washing machine! Fine materials like wool and silk will almost certainly come out of the machine with irreparable damage. With proper care and maintenance, your oriental rugs can last years, while improper maintenance like machine washing can have a tremendous impact on their lifespan.
Call the team at Lov ‘N Kare Carpet Center for the most reliable and professional oriental rug cleaning in South Amboy, NJ!